Iraqis are voting in the country’s first elections following US forces’ withdrawal. However, terrorist attacks forced a third of provinces to refrain from participating in the polls due to security concerns.

The surge in assaults in recent days – mainly on candidates in
the regional elections – has left over 100 people dead, 14 of them
election candidates.

Security has been stepped up in Baghdad, with residents searched
before being allowed to enter polling stations, and soldiers and
police setting up numerous new checkpoints.

The streets were almost empty, with only pre-approved vehicles
allowed.

"Security is the most important problem that all of them
should be working for -- without this, life would be so
difficult," university student Abdulsahib Ali Abdulsahib, 22,
said after he cast his ballot.

Despite security being stepped up all across the country,
militants were able to carry out several attacks on Saturday, with
four people wounded, according to Reuters.

Due to security concerns, six of Iraq's 18 provinces are not
participating in the polls, two of them because authorities say
security cannot be ensured, and four because of various political
disagreements, AP reported.

The current elections for provincial councils, responsible for
naming governors who lead local reconstruction are the first since
the US troops departed from Iraq. They are considered a chance to
evaluate the parties’ popularity ahead of general elections next
year.

About 8,000 candidates are participating in the elections, with
378 seats contested.